Just heard from his son, Nick Patrick, that the Assassin passed away this afternoon, just soon after he entered hospice care. A major loss to this sport. RIP Assassin
Jody Hamilton started out so bad on the mic that his tag team partner, Tom Renesto , did all of the talking leading everyone to assume that Jody was Assassin #2 ....but he is the original Assassin and he became an absolute LEGEND on the mic . I only regret that I never got to pick his brain about match mechanics and psychology both of which he fully mastered . I was totally convinced that this guy was a hired bad ass ....despite his dad body . Which says a lot . He was incredibly athletic . I one saw him place a jobber seated on the top rop adjacent to the turnbuckle and throw a beautiful dropkick to his chest ! The guy was nearly 300lbs ! No way did he look capable of that kind of athleticism . His punches looked vicious and he knew how to grind a hold and to sell when it was done to him . Thats a craft considering you couldn't see his face . This guy was one of the best ever .
If I had to name just 3 Wrestlers that, just at the very MENTION of their respective names, would most definitely strike fear into the hearts of fans and other wrestlers, it's these three-1:The Masked Assassin. This man was a huge terror to your average wrestler, no matter what. 2:Ox Baker. The very visage of this legendary heel made your average wrestler wanna run for cover-FAST! Ox was known for a finishing manuever called the Heart Punch. It wasn't a fun move, either. If Ox had truly wanted to, he could've ended careers AND lives with that punch. 3:Maddog Vachon. Imagine eating something before your match, as a wrestler, not knowing that you were going to have to face him. Then, when you see that it's the Maddog staring at you, with an extremely vicious look in his eyes, all of a sudden, you feel about a pound of diarrhea come squirting out of your Anal cavity into your rights, just from the fear and horror of knowing what you're going to have to endure in that "Squared Circle", at the hands of this purveyor of mayhem! Not a fun feeling, is it?!?
He was damned good in the ring ... I once saw him perch a man on the top rope right near the turn buckle then dropkick him off out off the ring onto the floor . He got high up , way higher than I thought a 260lbs guy his height could . He had weight issues , ups and downs in poundage , but as far as I can see that was his only weakness .
R.I.P. to the greatest man to ever wear a mask The Assassin. You were great in the ring and on the mike. You will be missed in the ring for your hard work and dedication...JP
one of the first wrestlers I remember seeing. the assassins when I was just a kid on GCW channele 11 WQXI in Atlanta. that is the time when wrestling made the weekend Jodi was one of the greats. I could name names from that era some never heard of many greats back then. thanks for the memories
Omg I came upon this by accident and holy shit I used to watch this very show when I lived in Ocala Florida in the early 80’s it’s how I know and fondly remember a young ric flair
I remember as a teen would go to the wrestling matches in the WPB auditoriom every monday night. I would run up and jeer many heels but was always afraid of the Assassin. He came out of the dressing room I would stay the hell in my seat ! RIP Jodi Hamilton you are among the greats.
I loved it when Ox Baker used The Assassin's mask on a mannequin and then gave him a beat down on a promo! The way Hamilton gave a FORCEFUL interview was great and very believable. I also thought when The Assassin tricked Dusty Rhodes into thinking he was El Santo and broke a plaque over his head, while Solie ran for the hills was terrific!
The Assassin #1 never broke a rule, never cheated, and always wrestled by the book. So many great memories in and out of the ring. Look at his great contract signing with Dusty Rhodes for a World Title match, the one where Dusty is too drunk to sit in a chair. Now that's how you do a contract signing. Or that great debate with Mr Wrestling 2, where The Assassin wipes the floor with that masked impostor. Happy Birthday Assassin #1 --- In my book you're one of the best.
And what do you think went through Jimmy Hart's head when an up and comer like Pringle not only stole his PYT Express, but also singed the REAL Assassin.
Jody Hamilton was hands down the best Masked Heel of all Time . I say that in full appreciation of The Masked Superstar and The Spoiler , they just were not quite in Jody's league .
I lived 3 blocks from Ft Homer Hestlery Armory in Tampa and would get up early during the summer to push my lawn mower around to make money so I could pay to go see the wrestling matches. I loved to watch Dusty, Steve Kern, the Briscoes, Mike Graham, and all the other home town favorites. I was only afraid of one wrestler ever, and that was the Assassin.
My all time favorite .... He was in my territory ( Louisiana ) when I first got into watching wrestling . He was tagging with The Angel and popping the territory with The Hammerlock ...yeah , a Hammerlock ...his psychology was so good that people would scream bloody murder as he and Frank Morell applied a double standing hammerlock ...through in one of the best unsung managerial talents ever in Rock Hunter and you had memories being made .
I also was watched Mid-South Wrestling in the early 80s in NOLA. Assassin teamed with The Angel. I believe their manager was one Rock Hunter? Used to feud with Buck Robley, Bill Watts, JYD et al.
I always thought The Masked Assassin was so good at cutting promos & even better in the ring. I loved watching The Assassin & The Bullet when Bob Armstrong was a heel here in the Mobile & Dothan territories when Ron & Robert Fuller owned Southeastern Championship Wrestling.
He was the Flame in our area. The end of his career and literally believed EVERY word he said as an 8 year old. He had an angle where he threw fire at his opponents and it was one of the best in ring gimmicks in the history of wrestling! I’ve ALWAYS loved the heels and one night at Boutwell Auditorium he had a match against the Bullet for a chance to wrestle Ric Flair for the NWA Championship. The Bullet was about to pin him and my emotions overcame me and I tried to break loose from my dad and I guess scale the retaining wall. I did not succeed or course and cried my eyes out in rage and it was so bad my dad had to console me. Lol As the Flame was waking away I screamed HE CHEATED YOUR STILL MY FAVORITE with tears on my face. He didn’t acknowledge me but I’d like to think after his long career that through an 8 year olds tears he realized what he meant to the sport.
God bless Jody !! His feuds with Dusty and Mr. Wrestling #2 were the ALL TIME BEST !!! He should have got a title run. But he was a prime example of a talent being SO GOOD he didn't need the belt !!
If the "wrestlers" of today would listen, watch, and study men like The Assassin , Harley Race , and other true performers, they would learn the true way to draw heat and cut a believable promo, unscripted , unrehersed , the fans would be blown away
GRITS AIN'T GROCERY....P.S.HAYES WAS A REAL DEAL COUNTRY BOY From GEORGIA WAS A TREAT TO SEE YOU IN TAMPA 👍MR HAMILTON YOU SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME AND MY COUSIN IN 78-81✌
As much as I used to hate the Assassin while growing up in Tampa in the seventies and eighties, I always thought that he was one of the most professional heels in the ring and out. He did his job as a wrestler and heel extremely well...
The Assassin was great! 👍 I love Michael's voice. He was always menacing and believable with his threats. Good entertainer 👍 Funny thing is Gordon is giving Michael his own mic, because Michael (and a lot of wrestlers missing teeth or whatever) used to spit/slobber when he spoke being wound up and he used to spit on Gordon during interviews (Gordon being short) and couldn't control it to the point Gordon had had enough of being spit on, so they used the side mic for awhile. Lmao funny!
There were a few wrestlers that were bounty hunters Bruiser Brody, Blackjack Mulligan and few others. The only real bounty hunter in prp wrestling was the Assassin After he retired, he helped train potential wrestlers at the WCE power plant
At 5.00 the Assassin said the same things as being specialized in to Solie in GA in late 1984 or early 1985 after a match where the referee was his son Nick Patrick. I wonder around this time that JJ Dillion left FL and was in NC then to GA.
I saw the Assassin vs Mr Wrestling II in Gadsden AL.....Mr W II yanked his mask off....and he had on another mask under it !! Talk about one pissed off 10 year old kid !!
Michael had everything , huge build , long rock star hair , gravelly voice , the rap was great , but not athleticism . He was 6'2" 250 lbs and had hammer fists but was a complete klutz in the ring .
He wasn’t. Manager’s were a dime a dozen and were official in name only, they didn’t actually manage anything, it was a good job if you could get it and get paid just for being annoying.
Talk about keeping it Kayfabe! Do you realize that there are documented photos of masked Florida wrestlers actually cashing checks at a local bank in The Seventies while still in their workplace garb? Imagine the panic stricken looks they received in Tampa for that.B.W.
Jody Hamilton could teach a master course on promos. So could Michael Hayes. True legends.
Golden mask, golden talent, golden psychology, golden man, and a golden legacy!
Rest In Peace, Jody "The Assassin" Hamilton (1938 - 2021)
Couldn't have said it better . The Assassin was a king in the sport of kings .
Just heard from his son, Nick Patrick, that the Assassin passed away this afternoon, just soon after he entered hospice care. A major loss to this sport. RIP Assassin
Jody Hamilton started out so bad on the mic that his tag team partner, Tom Renesto , did all of the talking leading everyone to assume that Jody was Assassin #2 ....but he is the original Assassin and he became an absolute LEGEND on the mic . I only regret that I never got to pick his brain about match mechanics and psychology both of which he fully mastered . I was totally convinced that this guy was a hired bad ass ....despite his dad body . Which says a lot . He was incredibly athletic . I one saw him place a jobber seated on the top rop adjacent to the turnbuckle and throw a beautiful dropkick to his chest ! The guy was nearly 300lbs ! No way did he look capable of that kind of athleticism . His punches looked vicious and he knew how to grind a hold and to sell when it was done to him . Thats a craft considering you couldn't see his face . This guy was one of the best ever .
one tough s of a gun
@@5103jerry You would know better than me . Assuming you are Jerry Stubbs , the Louisiana Champion .
Still missing him assassins
@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906great comment, thanks for the insight
Ole Anderson and the Assassin are two of the very best promos in pro wrestling history. Happy birthday Mr. Assassin.
hey this is Assassin happy birthday you're too
Hey please give me a text back this is Assassin one IHOP birthday
I'll be seeing you in Boaz Alabama is coming months sometimes
Absolutely
If I had to name just 3 Wrestlers that, just at the very MENTION of their respective names, would most definitely strike fear into the hearts of fans and other wrestlers, it's these three-1:The Masked Assassin. This man was a huge terror to your average wrestler, no matter what. 2:Ox Baker. The very visage of this legendary heel made your average wrestler wanna run for cover-FAST! Ox was known for a finishing manuever called the Heart Punch. It wasn't a fun move, either. If Ox had truly wanted to, he could've ended careers AND lives with that punch. 3:Maddog Vachon. Imagine eating something before your match, as a wrestler, not knowing that you were going to have to face him. Then, when you see that it's the Maddog staring at you, with an extremely vicious look in his eyes, all of a sudden, you feel about a pound of diarrhea come squirting out of your Anal cavity into your rights, just from the fear and horror of knowing what you're going to have to endure in that "Squared Circle", at the hands of this purveyor of mayhem! Not a fun feeling, is it?!?
The Assassian was gold on the mic. His intensity wasn`t phony.
The Assassin always cut a great promo. Wasn't bad in the ring either. Terrorized Georgia for years. Jody Hamilton is a credit to the business.
He was damned good in the ring ... I once saw him perch a man on the top rope right near the turn buckle then dropkick him off out off the ring onto the floor . He got high up , way higher than I thought a 260lbs guy his height could . He had weight issues , ups and downs in poundage , but as far as I can see that was his only weakness .
deep south wrestling
@@georgeelmerdenbrough6906 I saw that too !
Jody also promoted wrestling shows. He worked with my late lady friend, Lillian Ellison.
R.I.P. to the greatest man to ever wear a mask The Assassin. You were great in the ring and on the mike. You will be missed in the ring for your hard work and dedication...JP
One of the best heel promos I've ever seen. Guy was good on a mic.
The Assassin was gold on the mic.
I specialize in pain.
You gotta love that quote.
one of the first wrestlers I remember seeing. the assassins when I was just a kid on GCW channele 11 WQXI in Atlanta. that is the time when wrestling made the weekend Jodi was one of the greats. I could name names from that era some never heard of many greats back then. thanks for the memories
Omg I came upon this by accident and holy shit I used to watch this very show when I lived in Ocala Florida in the early 80’s it’s how I know and fondly remember a young ric flair
I remember as a teen would go to the wrestling matches in the WPB auditoriom every monday night. I would run up and jeer many heels but was always afraid of the Assassin. He came out of the dressing room I would stay the hell in my seat ! RIP Jodi Hamilton you are among the greats.
thankyou for your hard work and dedication stay bless n keep it moving happy birthday n my man back in the early 80's
Jody is 80 years old. Damm time fly’s. Get that man a podcast quick
Rip Jody Hamilton
Happy birthday 🎂
Always loved the Assassin’s promos.
Rest In Peace Mr Jody Hamilton "The Assassin"
One of my all-time favorites! The Assassin rules!
One of the greatest Legends of all Time. The Number One masked Man in Wrestling.
Rest in peace Assassin (Jody Hamilton, 1938-2021)
Great promo from Hamilton and what a nose on that guy. Pringles facial expressions are so good.
Jody Hamilton, the masked assassin, was always one of my favorite heels.
Jody could pack Marks in The Ft Hesterly Armory like no other. He drew a lot of Kayfabe Heat in Tampa as a Heel.
I loved it when Ox Baker used The Assassin's mask on a mannequin and then gave him a beat down on a promo! The way Hamilton gave a FORCEFUL interview was great and very believable. I also thought when The Assassin tricked Dusty Rhodes into thinking he was El Santo and broke a plaque over his head, while Solie ran for the hills was terrific!
The Assassin #1 never broke a rule, never cheated, and always wrestled by the book. So many great memories in and out of the ring. Look at his great contract signing with Dusty Rhodes for a World Title match, the one where Dusty is too drunk to sit in a chair. Now that's how you do a contract signing. Or that great debate with Mr Wrestling 2, where The Assassin wipes the floor with that masked impostor. Happy Birthday Assassin #1 --- In my book you're one of the best.
And what do you think went through Jimmy Hart's head when an up and comer like Pringle not only stole his PYT Express, but also singed the REAL Assassin.
Jody Hamilton was hands down the best Masked Heel of all Time . I say that in full appreciation of The Masked Superstar and The Spoiler , they just were not quite in Jody's league .
Assassins promos..such a "Deadly intensity". The man should have been in politics...everyone would fall right in line!
He may not have broken rules but he would sure as hell break somebody's neck ....one of the greatest heels in my book #8 out of 50 👍
@@robertfullerjr802 There's nothing in the rules which would prevent the Assassin from breaking some lesser talented grappler's neck.
I lived 3 blocks from Ft Homer Hestlery Armory in Tampa and would get up early during the summer to push my lawn mower around to make money so I could pay to go see the wrestling matches. I loved to watch Dusty, Steve Kern, the Briscoes, Mike Graham, and all the other home town favorites. I was only afraid of one wrestler ever, and that was the Assassin.
Then he did his job. He was terrifying
The best on the mic and in the ring
My all time favorite .... He was in my territory ( Louisiana ) when I first got into watching wrestling . He was tagging with The Angel and popping the territory with The Hammerlock ...yeah , a Hammerlock ...his psychology was so good that people would scream bloody murder as he and Frank Morell applied a double standing hammerlock ...through in one of the best unsung managerial talents ever in Rock Hunter and you had memories being made .
I also was watched Mid-South Wrestling in the early 80s in NOLA. Assassin teamed with The Angel. I believe their manager was one Rock Hunter? Used to feud with Buck Robley, Bill Watts, JYD et al.
@@lumus1 yep
This should be required viewing for the folks in the business today!!!
The assassin and Harley race were so believable
The assassin was a great wrestler I watched him wrestle in different promotions .
I always thought The Masked Assassin was so good at cutting promos & even better in the ring.
I loved watching The Assassin & The Bullet when Bob Armstrong was a heel here in the Mobile & Dothan territories when Ron & Robert Fuller owned Southeastern Championship Wrestling.
Yep I remember the assassian one and jimmy valients fued one of the greatest and long time fueds
Since we're all going to note that Percy Pringle was Paul Bearer....let me say that Jody Hamilton was referee Nick Patrick's father.
He was the Flame in our area. The end of his career and literally believed EVERY word he said as an 8 year old. He had an angle where he threw fire at his opponents and it was one of the best in ring gimmicks in the history of wrestling!
I’ve ALWAYS loved the heels and one night at Boutwell Auditorium he had a match against the Bullet for a chance to wrestle Ric Flair for the NWA Championship. The Bullet was about to pin him and my emotions overcame me and I tried to break loose from my dad and I guess scale the retaining wall. I did not succeed or course and cried my eyes out in rage and it was so bad my dad had to console me. Lol As the Flame was waking away I screamed HE CHEATED YOUR STILL MY FAVORITE with tears on my face. He didn’t acknowledge me but I’d like to think after his long career that through an 8 year olds tears he realized what he meant to the sport.
Nothing cooler than a guy in a three piece suit and a mask except for a guy in sansabelt slacks; a golf shirt and a mask.
The Assassain passed today. Rest in peace
God bless Jody !! His feuds with Dusty and Mr. Wrestling #2 were the ALL TIME BEST !!! He should have got a title run. But he was a prime example of a talent being SO GOOD he didn't need the belt !!
If the "wrestlers" of today would listen, watch, and study men like The Assassin , Harley Race , and other true performers, they would learn the true way to draw heat and cut a believable promo, unscripted , unrehersed , the fans would be blown away
marinegny70 .bb king
The game has changed . Wrestling is now primarily a TV show that sells licensing to toy makers etc.
Man. The assassin was a full yard wide at the shoulders and this was pure gold. Paul Bearer/Percie Pringle/William Moody, young with blond hair.
Rest in Power, Assassin.
Awesome interviews. Ps Hayes did great. Always a fan of the assassin
GRITS AIN'T GROCERY....P.S.HAYES WAS A REAL DEAL COUNTRY BOY From GEORGIA WAS A TREAT TO SEE YOU IN TAMPA 👍MR HAMILTON YOU SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME AND MY COUSIN IN 78-81✌
The Assassin does the best Promos.
Rest In Peace Jody Hamilton 🌹
The Assassin Jody Hamilton!! Legendary you rule!!
Assassin 1 and assassin 2 was a formable team back then
R.I.P THE ASSASSIN.. PASSED AWAY TODAY ON MY BIRTHDAY 😢 🙏
As much as I used to hate the Assassin while growing up in Tampa in the seventies and eighties, I always thought that he was one of the most professional heels in the ring and out. He did his job as a wrestler and heel extremely well...
R.I.P.Buddy Roberts.R.I.P. Terry Gordy miss those freebirds. Still have Michael Hays.
The Assassin : The South's Greatest Masked Wrestler! The Team of the Assassins. The South's GREATEST TAG TEAM! AND the GREATEST EVER with a mike!
michael hayes the assassin gordon solie- it just doesnt get any better than this...
The Assassin was great! 👍
I love Michael's voice.
He was always menacing and believable with his threats.
Good entertainer 👍
Funny thing is Gordon is giving Michael his own mic, because Michael (and a lot of wrestlers missing teeth or whatever) used to spit/slobber when he spoke being wound up and he used to spit on Gordon during interviews (Gordon being short) and couldn't control it to the point Gordon had had enough of being spit on, so they used the side mic for awhile.
Lmao funny!
The Assassin was a bad ass.
Rip pop I love you grandpa.
There were a few wrestlers that were bounty hunters
Bruiser Brody, Blackjack Mulligan and few others. The only real bounty hunter in prp wrestling was the Assassin
After he retired, he helped train potential wrestlers at the WCE power plant
One of the greatest heels ever
One of the best promo man ever !
Assassin #1 was a great heel and entertainer inside and out of the ring. Who was the Saint?
Chris whaley
R.i.p the assassin
At 5.00 the Assassin said the same things as being specialized in to Solie in GA in late 1984 or early 1985 after a match where the referee was his son Nick Patrick. I wonder around this time that JJ Dillion left FL and was in NC then to GA.
i remeber the assassian wrestling as the flame in continental wrestling
The Assassin's - bottom wrist lock ..lateral drop was a devastating move
Never cared for the Freebirds as faces...great heels never cared for them as faces.
Michael Hayes = great on the mic
He did some of his growing up here in Atlanta when Atlanta was rough to live in at the time!!
I specialize in PAIN!
amazing
The master of desception
R.I.P JODY HAMILTON
RIP Gordon and Percy
When wrestling was worth watching.
Happy birthday Assassian one
Little did we know how right The Assassin was about Hayes being doomed. Just a decade or so later, he would debut in WWF as Handsome Doc Hendrix.
Great talker
We are going to turn bad street into a playground lol
HBD , Assassin!!!!
I watched him in Birmingham in 86 he went by the flame there
I saw the Assassin vs Mr Wrestling II in Gadsden AL.....Mr W II yanked his mask off....and he had on another mask under it !! Talk about one pissed off 10 year old kid !!
@@patrickbearden9323 do you remember Arn Anderson wrestling with a mask going by super
Olympia
@@timglover5358 Seems like I do.....those were the days!!
@@patrickbearden9323 yeah they were, I'm proud that my teenage years were the 80's other than the hair 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Imagine you're using the bathroom and you hear this guy cut a promo and then you see him.
Just think, he’s now old enough to be President or a congressman now
RIP.
Percy Pringle RIP.
This guy would become the manager for the undertaker in later times now this most definitely a throwback right here!
William Moody was a Mortician in real life
Also Managed Rick Rude in World Class in Dallas for The Von Erichs.🤔😉🎤🐴🤼♂️B.W.
Percy Pringle before he was Paul Bearer
I remember when Percy Pringle managed the PYT''s & Ric Rude way before he became Paul Bearer God rest his soul
@@bigwillietheb he was actually a trained mortician in real life.
Michael had everything , huge build , long rock star hair , gravelly voice , the rap was great , but not athleticism . He was 6'2" 250 lbs and had hammer fists but was a complete klutz in the ring .
The Assassin was the best masked wrestler ever.
RIP assassin
Love it
I didn’t know Paul Bearer was the Assassin’s manager.
Percy Pringle III, by then
He wasn’t. Manager’s were a dime a dozen and were official in name only, they didn’t actually manage anything, it was a good job if you could get it and get paid just for being annoying.
"I specialize in PAIN!!" LOL
Loved the assassin's
Miss the good old days of wrestling.
everyone wrestled in Florida!!!
R.I.P. Assassin!
Peracy pringle aka the pall bearer
The best.
This is how you do a promo.
Got a kick out of Michael Hayes' pronouncing of the Assassin's name at 2:21 of this video. Ass...sassin!
great promo from the assassin
Gordon Soli was the best 🎤🤩❤️
Talk about keeping it Kayfabe! Do you realize that there are documented photos of masked Florida wrestlers actually cashing checks at a local bank in The Seventies while still in their workplace garb? Imagine the panic stricken looks they received in Tampa for that.B.W.
What year was this? Curious because The Assassin talks about Percy & his mom paying him.
Who stole the mom gimmick? Percy or Cornette?